Ontario Fishing Network E-Magazine

Ontario Fishing Network
E-Magazine

www.ontariofishing.net
Volume 12,  Issue 5- May  2012
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IN THIS ISSUE

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Panfish Season Primer
by Tim Allard

Cranks for Capricious Great Lakes Trout and Salmon
By Mitch Eagan

Your Private Fishing Paradise
Eco-friendly property in the Bahamas.

Facts of Fishing Show
Pro Angler, Host of Facts of Fishing THE SHOW and Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer Joins his good buddy Mark Zona for some ice smashing largemouth bass action

Off the Dock Toon
by Maureen Shelleau

West Bay Cottages
If you are looking to forget the stress of the city, take that deserved vacation, spend time with family and friends, experience the relaxing time of great fishing, West Bay Cottages on Lake Nipissing is the perfect place for you!

Giant Bronzebacks On Muck
“Uncut Angling” Host/Guide Aa
ron Wiebe Talks Profile, Color and Scent For Big Smallies
By Jim Edlund

Experience Ontario’s Lake Superior Provincial Park!
By: Tyler Dunn
Ontario has an amazing amount of provincial parks for anglers, kayakers, canoeists and campers to all enjoy.

Trolling Small for Early Walleyes
By Keith Kavajecz and Gary Parsons
Trolling for early season walleyes is nothing new, particularly if you are talking Great Lakes or other “open water” scenarios.

Vintage Ad (1928)
Pflueger Never Fail Minnow Bait!

Feel The Bite!
By Lawrence Euteneier
Fish are excellent listeners.

Get North - Ontario Fishing Vacation Directory (New site)
Search here for your next awesome fishing trip!

Fishing Lodge Classifieds
Come fish your heart out at one of these many Lodges, Camps and Resorts.


Facts of Fishing

Ontario Perch Fishing

Ontario Fish Species

Bay Of Quinte 

Total Snowshoes

BoatersWorld.com

Panfish Season Primer
By Tim Allard

With spring upon us another exciting panfish season is underway. Crappie, perch, sunfish and rock bass are all great sport on light tackle from ice-out to autumn. Here are some preparation tips to jumpstart your success along with a sampling of tactics to try this year.

Recuperating from the Ice
More so than other species, most of my panfish gear gets year-round action. Although the space between ice-out and the beginning of open-water fishing can be short, it's important to invest time getting organized so that you start the season off right.

Preparations include transferring tackle (like jigs and soft-baits) from your ice fishing trays to open-water boxes. Also inventory your tackle and replenish what's been depleted from the previous year.

If your ultra-light reels are pulling double duty, be sure to service and lubricate them as well. While you're at it, add fresh line. Use ice thread as backing to get more bang for your buck from a filler spool.

Panfish Fishing

Shake-Up the Standard
Once the tedious task of getting your gear organized is accomplished, take some time to reflect on the upcoming season. A great way to re-energize your panfish adventures is to experiment with different presentations beyond your standard go-to offerings, such as jig and float set-ups for example. Below are some effective but sometimes overlooked panfish tactics that work all season long.

PerchPitching to Weeds
It's not uncommon for largemouth anglers to occasionally land quality panfish, like crappie, when targeting bass on deep weed flats. Part of the reason the bass are where they are is because of forage abundance, including various panfish species.

Working weed flats with light powered rods might seem like a snag-fest, but the right approach will curtail hang-ups. The key is using short, precise casts to place weedless jigs into openings, like pockets and cuts. The Lindy Veg-E-Jig or Northland Weed Weasel are great options to pluck out perch and crappie from the weeds. Use a slip bobber if fish are suspended in the vegetation.
When working outside edges bucktail jigs are an awesome choice. Their tied-on bodies take loads of abuse, which commonly results from ripping them free from hang-ups.

Deep-Water Options
Consider a straight-down approach when fish are actively feeding in deep water areas, like flats or humps. Jigging minnows and rattle spoons between 1.5 to 2-inches are two popular options. The ruckus these baits produce is excellent at calling-in fish and then stimulating them to bite. Aggressively working these lures discourages smaller fish from striking, while simultaneously appealing to the appetite of larger panfish.

When faced with fussy or neutral pannies a drop-shot rig is a great option to coax bites. It's extremely sensitive and easily transmits the lightest panfish peck because the sinker's separated from the hook. Also, as the hook's tied directly to the main line you can make subtle soft-baits come to life with the lightest rod shake. Two to three inch grubs, finesse worms, leeches and minnows are all great artificial options.

Another bonus of the rig is that with an appropriately heavy sinker you'll always maintain bottom contact, helping you stay in the zone when fish are feeding near the floor. On a soft bottom, the sinker will kick up a silt cloud mimicking the maelstrom created from active bottom-feeders, like perch. This is a sure-fire way to attract curious panfish.

Whether you vertically jig or drop-shot in deep water you're in for some line twist. To eliminate this headache, tie on a quality, micro-swivel a few feet above your lure.

Shore-Fish More
From spring to fall, slipping out for an hour or two during the week to target panfish from shore is one of my favorite stress-relievers. I encourage you to do more of it this season. Regardless of whether your homestead is urban, suburban or rural, there's often a stream, river or lake in close proximity you can cozy up to from shore and wet a line.

To me, part of the fun of shore fishing is its spontaneity and simplicity. The best way to set yourself up for success is being organized so you can quickly grab your gear and go. I keep a small tackle tray stocked with my shore-fishing favorites. It sits in a weathered backpack that carries some release tools and a few other odds and ends. Within minutes I can shoulder the bag, grab a rod and be out the door. Don't discount the fun of tying on an old pair of running shoes and getting your feet wet on a hot summer day.

Spin-Off Benefits
Although catching panfish is a hoot in and of itself in spring and early summer, it also has perks for multi-species adventurers later in the year. Getting the boat out early provides plenty of time to troubleshoot and repair problems caused by boat-storage gremlins. Come walleye and pike opener, I fish with a lot more confidence knowing I've already put my rig through the paces chasing panfish.

Spring fishing also helps you brush up on important skills. It's a great setting to practice launching your boat, controlling it in various conditions, re-familiarizing yourself with your electronics, and acclimatizing your muscles to important fishing movements like casting and standing balance.
Rushing streams and the earthy smell from a thawed frost line signal the start of the open-water season. Celebrate the arrival of spring by getting your boat and equipment organized early and enjoy some panfish action while charting a course for a great overall multi-species year.

Editors & Publishers
T.J. & Monique Quesnel
The Ontario Fishing Network E-Magazine is published 12 times a year on or near the beginning of every month. Our magazine is geared to any angler who enjoys fishing of any type in the wonderfully diverse province of Ontario. Editorial Submissions: We welcome query letters, but assume no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Subscriptions: Subscriptions are FREE of charge and delivered via email.  You can subscribe HERE:  Privacy Policy: Unlike other publications We NEVER make our subscribers list (your email address) available to any other companies. Advertising: If you are interested in advertising please email us. Circulation - 13,000  email subscribers © 2012  Due North Marketing / Ontario Fishing Network / T.J. Quesnel. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material without prior written permission strictly prohibited.